Container cover with integrated compartments

ABSTRACT

The container cover and method of consuming food items allows a plurality of food items to be stored, transported, and consumed in a convenient package. The container cover secures food items in a container by covering an opening of the container while providing one or more compartments to store other food items. The compartments may comprise an opening to allow food items to be placed within the compartments. The compartments can be opened such that the food items stored therein are released into the container with little or no risk of spillage. The compartments may be opened in various ways such as by puncturing, tearing, or pushing open a portion of the compartments. A cap may be used to cover the opening of one or more compartments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to food storage containers and specifically to anovel container cover with integrated compartments for storing separatefood items.

2. Related Art

Traditionally, food items such as take out, packed lunch, frozendinners, and the like have been stored in individual containers forconvenient and spill free transport. For example, some known containersfor food items include bags, foil, wax paper, plastic or other rigid orsemi-rigid containers. These traditional containers may be well suitedfor storing and transporting food items. However, they are not wellsuited for and generally not designed to preserve the quality, taste,freshness of certain mixed food items stored therein. This is especiallyso for food items with sauces, dressing, and the like.

For example, salad with dressing cannot be stored in a traditionalcontainer for more than a short period of time because the dressing willquickly cause the salad to lose its crispness. Likewise, cereal withmilk cannot be stored in a traditional container because the cereal willrapidly become soggy. In other situations, it may be desirable to keephot and cold food items or dry and liquid food items separate until theitems are ready to be eaten.

It is known that this may be accomplished by utilizing separate anddistinct containers to store food items. At the time of consumption aperson may then open each separate container and combine the food items.In this manner, the taste, freshness, and quality are preserved.However, this requires separate individual containers which wastesmaterial and is inconvenient. In addition, when traveling or taking outfood from a restaurant, one of the multiple containers may be leftbehind or forgotten thereby leaving a food item without its associatedsauce, dressing, or the like. In this case, a person may decide the fooditem is not edible and the food item may be wasted or a return trip isrequired.

Thus, what is disclosed herein is a novel container cover withintegrated compartments for storing separate food items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A container cover for storing and transporting one or more food items isprovided herein. The container cover may be used to store food itemssuch that they remain separated until use. The container cover allowsseparate food items to be transported easily without the requirement ofmultiple individual containers.

In one embodiment, the container cover comprises a body configured tocover a container, and one or more compartments extending downward fromthe body. The compartments may comprise an opening to allow one or morefood items to be placed within the one or more compartments, and apenetrable portion below the opening configured to release a food iteminto the container. A cap configured to cover the opening of thecompartments may be provided as well. It is noted that in someembodiments the container cover may comprise a rim around its planarbody configured to fit on the container.

One or more related food items complimentary to a food item in thecontainer may be provided in the compartments of the container cover. Itis contemplated that the related food items are the same type of fooditem having different flavors. Of course, unrelated food items may bestored with the container cover as well. In fact, it is alsocontemplated that any type of food item may be stored with the containercover.

The planar body may be configured in various ways. In one embodiment,the planar body may be removed from the container and reconnected to thecontainer. The planar body may be configured to form a friction fit withthe container.

The compartments may be configured in various ways as well. For example,the one or more compartments may comprise a releasable portion and ahinge whereby the releasable portion is attached by the hinge. Inaddition, the penetrable portion of the one or more compartments maycomprise a puncturable material. Further, the penetrable portion of theone or more compartments may comprise at least one score line.

In another embodiment, the container cover comprises a container havinga mouth and storing a first food item, a planar body attached to thecontainer covering the mouth, a plurality of compartments extending fromthe planar body, and at least one cap attached to the planar bodyconfigured to seal the one or more compartments. The one or morecompartments may be configured to release at least one second food iteminto the container when opened.

The compartments may be configured to release food items in variousways. For example, the compartments may comprise at least onepuncturable portion which allow the compartments to be punctured. Thecompartments may also or alternatively comprise at least one score line.Further, the compartments may comprise a releasable portion and a hingewhereby the releasable portion is attached by the hinge.

A method for consuming a plurality of food items using a container coveris also provided herein. In one embodiment, the method comprises placingone or more food items in a container, covering the container with acontainer cover comprising one or more compartments, placing one or moreother food items in the one or more compartments through an opening ofthe one or more compartments, and covering the opening of the one ormore compartments with one or more caps. It is contemplated that the oneor more other food items may be complementary to the one or more fooditems in the container and are placed separately in the one or morecompartments.

The food items may then be subsequently eaten. For instance, in oneembodiment the method includes removing the one or more caps to accessthe one or more compartments, opening the one or more compartments torelease the one or more other food items into the container, removingthe container cover, and eating the one or more food items and the oneor more other food items from the container.

If it is desired that the food items be mixed, the one or more caps maybe reconnected to cover the one or more compartments and the one or morefood items and the one or more other food items may be agitated in thecontainer to mix the one or more food items and the one or more otherfood items together.

According to the method, the compartments may be opened in various ways.For example, opening the one or more compartments may comprisepuncturing the one or more compartments with an implement. Also, openingthe one or more compartments may comprise tearing the one or morecompartments along one or more score lines. Furthermore, opening the oneor more compartments may comprise pushing open a releasable portion ofthe one or more compartments.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will beor will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination ofthe following figures and detailed description. It is intended that allsuch additional systems, methods, features and advantages be includedwithin this description, be within the scope of the invention, and beprotected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasisinstead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary container coveraccording to the invention;

FIGS. 2A-2B are top views of exemplary container covers having variouscompartments according to the invention;

FIGS. 3A-3C are cross section side views of exemplary container coversaccording to the invention;

FIGS. 4A-4C are cross section side views of exemplary compartmentsaccording to the invention; and

FIGS. 5A-5C are cross section side views illustrating an exemplarycontainer cover in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a more thorough description of the present invention.It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that thepresent invention may be practiced without these specific details. Inother instances, well-known features have not been described in detailso as not to obscure the invention.

The container cover disclosed herein is generally configured to securelystore one or more food items in one or more separate compartments. Thecontainer cover may also be configured to cover an opening or mouth ofan existing container thus providing a lid for the container. In thismanner, the container cover stores one or more food items in itsseparate compartments while sealing an opening of a container. It iscontemplated that the container cover may be used with any container,now known or later developed, which has an opening that may be coveredor sealed by the container cover, such as but not limited to, bowls,cups, saucers, plates, pots, pans, TUPPERWARE® (trademark of TupperwareBrands Corporation), and the like. This is because the container covermay comprise a rim and/or have a shape which allows it to cover or seala variety of containers, as will be described further below.

Generally, a food item is any edible material, flavoring, ingredient, orthe like. Though described herein with specific examples of food items,it is noted that all manner of food items and combinations thereof maybe stored by the container cover. In addition, it is contemplated that,in one or more embodiments, the container cover may be used with relatedfood items such as a meal and its condiments; different courses of thesame meal; sauces, flavorings, or seasonings for a meal; or acombination thereof. The related food items will typically be food itemsthat are complementary to one another in that they provide a better ormore desirable taste to a user. It is also noted that food items invarious states, such as frozen, raw, cooked, steamed, cold, warm, orhot, may be stored by the container cover.

The container cover provides many advantages. As stated, the containercover securely stores one or more food items in addition to securingfood items in a container. The container cover may comprise one or morecompartments and thus the food items may be stored separate from oneanother and separate from any food items in a container. This isadvantageous in that the one or more food items can remain separateuntil a user decides to mix or eat the food items. For instance, dryitems may remain separate from wet items, hot items separate from colditems, differently flavored items may remain separate, or a combinationthereof. In this manner, the quality, crispness, freshness, and taste ofone or more food items is preserved.

In the case of a salad for example, the dressing, croutons, tomatoes,etc. . . . may be stored separately while the lettuce is stored in thecontainer. The container cover, in this embodiment, would provideseparate compartments for the dressing, croutons, tomatoes, etc. . . .and provide a lid to secure the lettuce in the container. In thismanner, the crispness of the lettuce and croutons are preserved and theuser may enjoy a fresh salad at his or her convenience.

Another advantage which will be discussed below is that the containercover may include one or more compartments which a user may puncture orotherwise open to release the food items stored therein. The one or morecompartments are beneficial in that the user may open a compartment tomix one or more food items together prior to eating them. To illustrate,in the above example, the dressing compartment may be opened so that thedressing may be mixed with the lettuce.

The one or more compartments are also beneficial in that one or moreseparate food items may be stored by a single container cover. Withtraditional containers, food items, even when they are intended to beeaten together, are stored in separate containers. This is undesirablebecause it is inconvenient to carry multiple individual containers. Inaddition, the individual containers may be forgotten or otherwise becomeseparated, making the food items inedible or at least undesirable. Forexample, ketchup or other sauce for french fries may be forgotten orlost making the fries less desirable to some. The container cover hereinprevents such a situation by storing one or more separate food itemswithin its attached compartments. In this manner, individualcompartments and thus the food items therein cannot be forgotten orlost.

It is contemplated that the container cover may be resistant to hot andcold temperatures in one or more embodiments. In this manner, thecontainer cover may be microwave safe, freezer safe, or even safe to useover the stove. This is yet another advantage in that the containercover may be used to prepare, such as by heating up, one or more fooditems for consumption without first removing the food items.

The container cover will now be described according to the figures. FIG.1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an exemplary containercover 108, a cap 112, and a container 104. As can be seen, the containercover 108 is configured to cover the container's 104 opening or mouth132 and store one or more food items in one or more compartments 116. Asstated, the compartments 116 may be used to store various food items. Itis contemplated that the compartments 116 may also be used to storenon-food items such as but not limited to one or more napkins, straws,utensils, and the like.

In one or more embodiments, the container cover 108 may comprise a body120. In general, the body 120 supports the compartments 116 of thecontainer cover. The compartments 116 may be integrally formed into thebody 120 or may be attached to the body in one or more embodiments. Thecup 112 may be ridged plastic or paper, or flexible plastic as foil.

The body 120 may be a planer structure and may be sufficiently rigid tosupport the weight of the compartments 116 and any food items within thecompartments. It is contemplated that the body 120 may be a non-rigid orflexible material as well. In these embodiments, the body 120 may betensioned across the mouth 132 of a container 104 such that the body,though flexible, can support one or more compartments 116 and their fooditems. It is contemplated that the body 120 may be formed from variousmaterials including but not limited to plastic, metal, and paper.

The container cover 108 may also comprise a rim 124 in one or moreembodiments. In general, the rim 124 allows the container cover 108 toattach to a container 104. In one embodiment, the rim 124 is sized andshaped to form a friction fit with a container 104. For example, the rim124 may form a friction fit similar to that of known lids such asTUPPERWARE® lids. In another embodiment, the rim 124 may include one ormore threads which conform to threads of a container 104. In thismanner, the container cover 108 may be attached to a container 104 byscrewing the container cover onto the container. It is contemplated thatthe rim 124 may also be used to reinforce the structure or rigidity ofthe container cover 108 in one or more embodiments. In one or moreembodiments, the rim 124 allows the container cover 108 to be reusable,such as described below, by allowing the container cover to be removedfrom and then reconnected on various containers.

It is noted that a rim 124 may not be provided in some embodimentsbecause the container cover 108 may be directly attached to a container104. An example of this is shown in FIG. 3A. For example, a containercover 108 may be attached by one or more adhesives, welds, or otherfasteners to a container 104 such that the container cover covers thecontainer's mouth 132. In one or more embodiments, the body 120 of thecontainer cover 108, or a portion thereof, may be adhered, welded, orotherwise attached to a container 104.

The compartments 116 may be configured in various ways. In general, acompartment 116 will comprise a structure having sides and a bottom intowhich one or more food (or other) items may be placed. A compartment 116may be a variety of shapes. For example, the compartments 116 of FIG. 1are bowl-like shapes. It will be understood that a compartment 116 maybe configured in any shape capable of storing a food item, such as butnot limited to those shown in FIG. 2A-2B.

FIGS. 2A-2B are top views of exemplary container covers 108 havingcompartments 116 in a variety of shapes. As can be seen, thecompartments 116 may be shaped and sized to store various quantities andtypes of food items. It is contemplated that, in one or moreembodiments, a compartment 116 may be configured such that its shapeconforms to the food (or other) item to be stored therein. It is alsocontemplated that one or more compartments 116 of any various shapes andsizes may be provided on a single container cover 108 such as shown inFIGS. 2A-2B. FIGS. 4A-4C, discussed in greater detail below, illustrateembodiments with rounded and rectangular cross sections. Of course,cross sections of other shapes, including shapes that conform to food orother items, may be used as well.

In one or more embodiments, the compartments 116 are water or air tightto prevent leakage of liquid food items, to preserve the freshness ofone or more items, or both. In other embodiments, the compartments 116may include one or more holes to allow ventilation for certain types offood items. It will be understood that a compartment 116 may be formedfrom various materials such as but not limited to plastic, metal, paper,or a combination thereof. It is contemplated that a compartment 116 maybe formed from food safe materials and that the material chosen to forma compartment may be selected based on one or more characteristics ofthe food item(s) to be stored. For instance, plastic or aluminum foilmay be selected for a compartment 116 used to store liquid food itemswhile wax paper or other paper may be selected for dry food items. Anycombination is contemplated.

As shown in FIG. 1, each compartment 116 may comprise an opening 128which allows food items to be placed in a compartment. To prevent fooditems from leaking or falling out of a compartment's 116 opening 128, acap 112 may be provided to cover the opening of one or morecompartments. A cap 112 may be configured to cover a plurality ofopenings 128. For instance, the cap 112 of FIG. 1 is large enough tocover the openings 128 of all the compartments 116 when placed over thecontainer cover 108. It is noted, that a cap 112 may also be configuredto cover a single opening 128. For example, a cap 112 may be a similarsize and shape as a compartment's 116 opening 128. In one or moreembodiments, a plurality of caps 112 may be provided to cover one ormore compartments 116 of a single container cover 108. A cap 112 may beformed from any material capable of securing a food item within acompartment 116 such as the materials used to form a compartment. It isnoted that by covering an opening, a cap may also seal the opening suchthat food items cannot leak, spill, or otherwise come out of theopening.

A cap 112 may attach to a container cover 108 in various ways. In oneembodiment, such as the embodiment of FIG. 3A, a cap 112 may be attachedby one or more adhesives, welds, or both. The cap 112 may also be tapedto a container cover 108. In these embodiments, the cap 112 may be aplanar sheet adhered, welded, or taped to a container cover 108. The cap112 may generally conform to the size and shape of the container cover108 to cover all openings 128 of a container cover, or may be sized andshaped to cover one or more individual openings. To illustrate, the cap112 of FIG. 1 has a similar shape and size to its associated containercover 108 thus allowing it to cover all the openings 128 of the cover.

In another embodiment, the cap 112 may be attached by friction such asby a threaded connector or a snap or other friction fit such as shown inFIG. 3B. In these embodiments, the cap 112 may be a planar structurehaving a lip 304 where the lip has features allowing the cap 112 tofrictionally attach to a container cover 108. For example, the lip 304may include threads which conform to threads of a container cover 108 oran opening. The lip 304 may alternatively provide a snap or otherfriction fit similar to known removable lids such as TUPPERWARE® lids.In one embodiment, like the embodiment of FIG. 3B, the lip 304 may beconfigured to provide a snap or other friction fit to the rim 124 of acontainer cover 108. The center area of the cap 112 may have raisedportions that correspond to the openings 116 to seal the openings.

Various combinations of caps 112 may be used with a container cover 108.For instance, in one embodiment, one or more caps 112 are provided toseal the openings of the compartments 116 while an additional cap isprovided to cover the container cover 108. It is contemplated that theadditional cap 112 may be a removable and reconnectable cap while theother caps may be planar sheets that may only be removed to access fooditems within the compartments 116. In this manner, the openings of thecompartments are covered by at least two caps 112. This is illustratedin FIG. 3C which shows caps 308 covering the openings of thecompartments 116 and an additional cap 312 configured to cover thecontainer cover 108. The additional cap 312 allows the container to becovered even after one or more of the other caps 308 have been removedor even punctured or opened because the additional cap may bereconnectable in one or more embodiments.

It is contemplated that a cap 112 may comprise one or more gaskets insome embodiments. The gaskets may conform to the openings of the one ormore compartments 116 to allow the cap 112 to better cover thecompartments. The gaskets may be formed from flexible materials such asrubber, plastic, silicon, or the like to allow the gaskets to form atight seal around the opening of a compartment. It is also contemplatedthat the cap 112 may be configured to be removed from and reconnected toa container in one or more embodiments. For example, the cap 112 may beattached by resilient adhesives or a friction fit which allow the cap112 to be reconnected the container cover after it has been removed.

Once sealed into a compartment 116 by a cap 112, the food items may bestored for future release by a user. Typically, the food items will bereleased by puncturing or otherwise opening a compartment 116. As willbe described further below, compartments 116 may be configured tofacilitate their opening by a user in various ways. In anotherembodiment, the compartment 116 may comprise portions that may bepunctured, removed such as a removable cup, or opened. For example, acompartment 116 or a portion thereof may be formed from penetrablematerial that can be torn, cut, punctured, or pierced to release a fooditem.

A compartment 116 may also include perforations, creases, or one or morethinner sections which allow a portion of the compartment to be opened.For example, a compartment 116 may be opened by puncturing, tearing, orremoving a portion of the compartment. In some embodiments a compartment116 may not be closable once it is opened such as where the compartmentis opened by puncturing or tearing. In these embodiments, the containercover 108 may be configured for a single use (i.e. be disposable). It isnoted that a single use container cover 108 is well suited for fast foodor take out because both the container 104 and container cover may bethrown away or recycled after use.

Of course, the container cover 108 may be configured for more than asingle use (i.e. be reusable) in one or more embodiments. As will bedescribed below, these embodiments will typically include compartments116 that may be repeatedly opened and closed to allow for multiple uses.It will be understood that single use and multiple use container covers108 may be interchangeably used with both disposable and non-disposablecontainers 104. Typically, but not always, reusable embodiments of thecontainer cover 108 will be formed from materials that can be cleanedfor subsequent uses.

FIGS. 4A-4C are cross section side views of exemplary compartments 116having score lines 404 which allow the compartments to be more easilyopened. The score lines 404 may be perforations, creases, orthinner/weaker sections of the compartment 116. It is noted thatperforations may not be desired in embodiments where a food item, suchas a liquid food item, would be able to escape through the perforations.Applying a force directly or indirectly to the score lines 404 may causea releasable portion 408 of a compartment 116 to at least partiallydetach from the remainder of the compartment. In this way, the fooditems inside the compartment 116 may be released.

For example, in the embodiments of FIGS. 4A-4B, a user may apply a forceto the releasable portion 408, such as with a utensil, blade, or otherimplement, to at least partially detach the releasable portion from theremainder of the compartment 116. As will be described further below,the utensil or other implement may be inserted through the compartment's116 opening 128 to reach the releasable portion 408. Of course, the usermay puncture, tear, cut, or otherwise open the compartment 116 in areasbesides the releasable portion 408. It is noted that one or more scorelines 404 may be provided in a single compartment 116 to the compartmentto be easily opened. In addition, a score line 404 may extend a portionor the entire perimeter or circumference of a compartment 116 in one ormore embodiments.

In multiple use embodiments, such as the embodiment of FIG. 4C, acompartment 116 may include a releasable portion 408 which may be openedand closed multiple times. In one embodiment, the releasable portion 408may comprise a hinge 416 which allows the releasable portion to open andclose. It is noted that the hinge 416 may be any structure which allowsthe releasable portion 408 to open and close while preventing thereleasable portion from becoming detached from the container cover 108.For example, the hinge 416 may comprise one or more sections of flexibleplastic or the like. The hinge 416 may also prevent the releasableportion 408 from contacting or falling into food items when acompartment is opened. Though beneficial for the above reasons, a hinge416 is not required in all embodiments.

In one embodiment, such as a reusable embodiment, the releasable portion408 includes or forms one or more seals 420 which allow the releasableportion to attach to the remainder of the compartment 116. The seal 420may also seal the releasable portion 408 to the remainder of thecompartment 116 to prevent food items from leaking out. It iscontemplated that the seal 420 may be broken and then resealed. The seal420 may comprise a portion of the releasable portion 408 configured tofrictionally fit the remainder of the compartment 116. For example, thereleasable portion may have an edge like that of a removable lid, suchas like that of a TUPPERWARE® or other lid.

One advantage of the container cover 108 and its compartments 116 isthat food items are cleanly released into the container 104. Withtraditional containers, a user must first open the separate container,and carefully pour food items prior to mixing them. The configuration ofthe compartments 116 ensures that food items only release into thecontainer 104. It is noted that in some embodiments the user may removesome of a food item prior to releasing it into the container 104. Inthis manner, only the desired amount of a food item is released. Forexample, if only a small amount of dressing is desired the user mayremove some of the dressing from the top of a compartment and thenrelease the remaining dressing into the container 104 below.

Another advantage of the container cover 108 and its compartments 116 isthat the user may be provided a choice of which food items to releaseand which to leave in their compartments. For example, a salad may beprovided with multiple dressings in separate compartments 116 and theuser may choose which dressing or dressings to use with his or hersalad.

Referring back to FIG. 1, it can be seen from the above that thecontainer cover 108 may be used to secure one or more food items withina container 104 by covering a mouth 132 of the container. The containercover 108 also stores one or more food items separately within one ormore compartments 116. The compartments 116 may then be sealed by one ormore caps 112 to prevent food items from falling or leaking out of thecompartments. In this manner, the food items in the container 104 andthe one or more compartments 116 can be stored in a single food storageapparatus comprising a container cover 108, a container 104, and a cap112. The food items may then be transported together while remainingstored separately the one or more compartments 116.

Operation of the container cover 108 will now be described with regardto FIGS. 5A-5C. FIG. 5A illustrates an exemplary container cover 108with two compartments 116 sealed by a cap 112. The container cover 108is attached to a container 104. A first food item 504 is stored in thecontainer 104 while a second food item 508 and a third food item 512 arestored in separate compartments 116 of the container cover 108. Theterms first, second, and third are used herein to give a name to thefood items to aid in the description that follows. Thus, the first,second, and third food items may be the same or different types of fooditems and there may be multiple first, second, and third food items inone or more embodiments.

The food items, when provided to a user, may already be secured in thecontainer 104 and compartments 116 by a container cover 108 and cap 112.For example, if used in a take out or to go setting, a restaurant mayplace and secure one or more food items into a container 104 and one ormore compartments 116. Similarly, if the container cover 108 is used forfrozen foods, the food items may be placed, secured, and then frozen forlater consumption by a user. It is noted that the user may also placeand secure food items into a container 104, one or more compartments116, or both to store the food items in some embodiments.

When a user is ready to eat, he or she may release the food items in thecompartments 116 and consume them with food items in the container 104.FIG. 5B illustrates the release of food items according to oneembodiment. As shown, the third food item 512 has been released by theuser opening one of the compartments 116 with an implement 516 such aseating wear. As described above, the implement 516 may be used to applya force which punctures, tears, or otherwise opens a compartment 116. InFIG. 5B, the user has forced the implement through a portion of thecompartment 116 thus releasing the third food item 512 into thecontainer 104 below. The second food item 508 has been released into thecontainer 104 as well. As can be seen, the first food item 504, secondfood item 508, and third food item 512 are now combined in the container104. The container cover 108 may now be removed to allow the userunhindered access to the food items. The user may then stir, mix, orjust consume the food items.

In some embodiments, such as the embodiment of FIG. 5B, a cap 112 may beremoved prior to releasing food items from their compartments 116. Theuser may then have access to the compartments 116. As stated above, theuser may then release the food items from their compartments 116. In oneembodiment, once the cap 112 is removed the user may push an implementinto the bottom or other area of the compartment 116 until thecompartment is punctured or otherwise opened, releasing its food itemsinto the container 104 below. In another embodiment, a cap 112 may bepunctured rather than removed. For example, the user may puncture thecap 112 near or at the opening of a compartment. The user may thenaccess and/or puncture the compartment 116 through the punctured area ofthe cap 112. In one embodiment, a user may push an implement through thecap 112 and then into a compartment 116 until the compartment ispunctured.

The cap 112 may be reconnected, such as shown in FIG. 5C to allow thefood items to be tossed or mixed within the container 104. For example,with a salad, the cap 112 may be reconnected to cover the opencompartments 116 and the container's mouth 132. Then the salad may bemixed by tossing or shaking it within the container 104. In this manner,any salad ingredients such as dressing or croutons are mixed into thesalad quickly and easily. Of course, other food items may be mixed in asimilar manner once the cap 112 is reconnected. It is noted that, ifdesired, the container cover 108 may be removed prior to reconnectingthe cap 112 to prevent and food items from getting caught in the opencompartments 116.

It is noted that once the cap 112 is removed a user may have access tothe food items within the container cover's 108 compartments 116, andthat the user may immediately consume these food items if desired. Forexample, one or more of the compartments 116 may contain an appetizerwhich the user may consume prior to consuming the food items stored inthe container 104. This illustrates another benefit of the containercover 104. Namely, that an entire meal may be stored using the containercover 104. For example, one or more compartments 116 may contain anappetizer, while one or more other compartments contain portions orsauces of the main course stored in the container. Dessert may also bestored in one or more of the compartments 116. In this manner, an entiremeal may be easily transported.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many moreembodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scopeof this invention. In addition, the various features, elements, andembodiments described herein may be claimed or combined in anycombination or arrangement.

1. A container cover comprising: a body configured to cover a mouth of acontainer; one or more compartments for food storage extending downwardfrom the body, the one or more compartments comprising: an opening toallow one or more food items to be placed within the one or morecompartments; and a penetrable portion below the opening, the penetrableportion configured to release a food item into the container; and one ormore caps configured to cover the opening of the one or morecompartments.
 2. The container cover of claim 1 further comprising oneor more complementary sets of food items selected from the groupconsisting of lettuce and salad dressing, noodles and spaghetti sauce,french fries and ketchup, and cereal and milk stored separately in theone or more compartments and the container.
 3. The container cover ofthe claim 1, further comprising an additional cap configured to fit overthe entire body.
 4. The container cover of claim 1 further comprising arim around the body, the rim configured to have a friction fit to thecontainer.
 5. The container cover of claim 1, wherein the body isconfigured to be removable from the container and reconnected to thecontainer.
 6. The container cover of claim 1, wherein the body issubstantially planar.
 7. The container cover of claim 1, wherein the oneor more compartments comprises a releasable portion and a hinge wherebythe releasable portion is attached by the hinge.
 8. The container coverof claim 1, wherein the penetrable portion of the one or morecompartments comprises flexible plastic or metallic foil.
 9. Thecontainer cover of claim 1, wherein the penetrable portion of the one ormore compartments further comprises at least one score line.
 10. Anapparatus for combining one or more food items comprising: a containerhaving a mouth, the container storing a first food item; a planar bodyattached to the container, the planar body covering the mouth; one ormore compartments extending from the planar body, the one or morecompartments configured to release at least one second food item intothe container when opened; and at least one cap attached to the planarbody, the at least one cap configured to cover the one or morecompartments.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or morecompartments comprise at least one puncturable portion.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more compartments comprise atleast one score line.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one ormore compartments comprise a releasable portion and a hinge whereby thereleasable portion is attached by the hinge.
 14. A method for storing aplurality of food items comprising: placing one or more food items in acontainer; covering the container with a container cover, the containercover having one or more compartments; placing one or more other fooditems in the one or more compartments through an opening of the one ormore compartments; and covering the opening of the one or morecompartments with one or more caps.
 15. The method of claim 14, whereinthe one or more other food items are one or more complementary sets offood items selected from the group consisting of lettuce and saladdressing, noodles and spaghetti sauce, french fries and ketchup, andcereal and milk placed separately in the one or more compartments andthe container.
 16. The method of claim 14 further comprising: removingthe one or more caps to access the one or more compartments; opening abottom portion of at least one of the one or more compartments torelease at least one of the one or more other food items into thecontainer; removing the container cover; and eating the one or more fooditems and the one or more other food items from the container.
 17. Themethod of claim 16 further comprising: reconnecting the one or more capsto cover the one or more compartments; and agitating the one or morefood items and the one or more other food items in the container to mixthe one or more food items and the one or more other food itemstogether.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein opening the bottom portionof at least one of the one or more compartments comprises puncturing theone or more compartments with an implement.
 19. The method of claim 16,wherein opening the bottom portion of at least one of the one or morecompartments comprises tearing the one or more compartments along one ormore score lines.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein opening the bottomportion of at least one of the one or more compartments comprisespushing open a releasable portion of the one or more compartments.